How does everyone well about using rooting hormones for cuttings?
Does it really help? If yes to using them what is the best kind to use? Just wondering if here is a higher success rate with? I have a few generous members sending me some rare cuttings and don't want
to lose them. So I would love you experts to let me benefit from your experience. Lol. Thanks for your time. Jeff
Jeff

Hey Jeff, certainly not an expert on figs. I have grown lots of
other things in my day. I have just started using Hormex, so I
am like you. Will wait on the results.

I'm also far from being an expert on figs but I have had excellent results using "Dip N Grow" , it's available online. Good luck with your rooting.

Thanks Mike. We can share our results to formulate an opinion on this.

According to USDA, it is not necessary. if hormone is used, it should be liquid. There is a fair amount of anecdotal evidence that powdered hormone actually promotes rotting of the cutting.

Scott, I hoped I would get positive feedback on using rooting hormones.

John, Gel is what I have been looking at on ebay.

Thank you both for your input. I highly value everyone here on the forums input.


Jeff

I stopped using powder hormone. I use either liquid or none. I'll be trying a new type of hormone soon. The company sending me samples to test out.

i am no expert on figs, but have in my day rooted about 100 or so fig cuttings and thousands of other plants incluting citrus, rose of sharron, pepino melon fruit, blackberries, raspberries, etc. i found that in some cases it helps alot. when i started using it on figs my root rate jumped 10% other things it helped even more. i use dip n grow never had any problems yet. i think a liquid or a gel is the way to go. i just dont see powder soaking into plant tissue as good. or just get some iba thats the stuff in rooting harmone that makes it root. cant remember what iba stands for, let alone spell it. i know they got some on ebay. if you get the iba its cheeper and you get more but have to mix it yourself.

Bass, let me know if you like the samples and of what brand they are and I might just have to try it.

Dave, I have a few blackberries and blueberries along with some citrus trees that I would love to root more of them glad to hear it can be done. Just new to not having to just buy everything. So being able to expand my plants is awesome news.

here is a link for iba on ebay. this is the way to go and what i am getting ready to switch to.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/221028089878?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649



tip layer your blackberries its the easiest way 100% root rate. or get into areoponics, mist propagation, or tissue culture (not for begginers) I have plants to build your own systems cheep that work great. if you would like to know pm me.

dave

Dave, that's the eBay buyer i bought from a few days ago and they provided fast service.  The only thing odd about them is that they say it's best if NAA is also used in addition to IBA (at 50% of the rate of IBA) but I don't see a source of NAA and have never heard of this recommendation before.  I read once that NAA was a synthetic form of IBA but don't know that this statement was correct.

i am not for sure about naa i know in tissue culture i use both iba and naa in the culture media along with certain salts and sugar agar etc

Fig cuttings generally do not root faster or better when using powder or liquid hormones in my experiences. Some liquid solutions generally also have anti-fungal chemicals which does aid in rooting. Given the figs do not sprout roots from the cut ends as compared to other types of trees and plants, the growth hormones have little effect when absorbed there.

I did try an experiment of using a mild hormone and antifungal solution to soak moss and see if it promoted faster or more roots in the zip lock bag method for comparing it to plain water for rooting some rare grape cuttings and there was a big difference. I was planning on trying that on fig cuttings this fall, but have yet to do it. I was waiting until late January when I start my tomato seeds and have access to my sister's greenhouses to have a more controlled environment and temps.  As with the grapes I was planning on using a paper towel cardboard tube with 3/8" holes drilled in a pattern around the circum. and length, the cutting concentric with the tube surrounded by moss damp with the solution then sealed in a bag.  With the grapes I saw a big diff in the density of roots seen in and through the holes with and without growth hormones , but then again they are different than figs.   I generally have a 90+ % success rate rooting figs in simple damp moss or paper towels after cleaning/dis the cuttings and leaving them alone for 4 weeks in a dark drawer.

IMO rooting hormone is not needed with the Fig cuttings. They root just fine.

Navid.

Last year I tested rooting hormone vs. a control group without hormone with 8 species, all other factors constant.  The cuttings with rooting hormone consistently rooted earlier and stronger.  I used Clonex gel.

I use rooting hormone with a lot of plants but not when rooting figs. I do use hormex after the figs have rooted and it seems to help prevent "sudden fig death". ( "Sudden fig death" is when a well rooted fig cutting just wilts and then dies for no apparent reason...)

Interesting Susan. That sounds like a good idea.

thats what we need some hard data and testing with a controll group, thats how you find results. i am doing a test about somthing i have read. unfortunatly it will take three years before i have results. i am testing the adaptation of figs to a cooler climate. i have read a paper stating that if figs are slowly over time inserted into a colder climate they can adapt and eventuly not require winter protection. the plus side any cutting will still contain this adaptation but at this point its just a thery. sorry for any misspelling or typos. im a vet and its happy hour again. if it offends you im sorry you havent seen or done what i have and if its ok with you right on. dont preach.
dave out

Dave, I think that Herman talks about that - figs becoming increasingly cold hardy over time. The thickness of the wood has something to do with it, too, though.

well i did it with a brown turkey but one is not much of a controll group or enough to draw a conclusion. so i am starting freash with 8 varieties and we shall seee how it goes.

no rooting hormone needed for figs. even the ones that was said hard to root rooted fine here without hormone. and if they do not have roots at the end of 4th week in the baggie, move then to soil mix. most of them will root in the cup that way.

Appreciate all the input. Maybe I will do a controlled group as well just to try for myself. But I am having so luck finally with rooting cuttings.
If anyone else can share anymore input good or bad on the subject please share it with us. I love and value all the different opinions.
Thanks everyone.

Jeff